Printing device



June 9, 1936. w A. TRATSCH ET AL 2,043,680

PRINTING DEVICE Filed June 24, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fi i.

INVENTORS Waller A. fiazsck Tf/[l/ ATTORNEYS.

J 9, 1936 w. A. TRATSCH ET AL PRINTING DEVICE 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 24 40 Wizlfr A.

7771571? ATTORNEY June 9, 1936. w. A TRATSCH ET AL PRINTING DEVICE 3 SheetsSheet 3 Filed June 24, 1935 3 fimqwd w \m m a m 3 m a a m a E rfi o W w r r z 1 6 d H 1 0 7 d a w W B Patented June 9, 1936 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRINTING DEVICE Application June 2.4, 1935, Serial No. 2%;080

I Claim.

This invention relates to a Printing device. It is an object of this invention to provide an improved printing device which is relatively simple and inexpensive in construction and efiicient in use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved score-printing or recording device for an amusement game. apparatus of the so-called pin and marble game type.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved web-severing device for a score-printing or recording device adapted for use in conjunction with so-called pin and marble games.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be understood best by reference to the accompanying. drawings, showing the preferred form of construction and in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of. a game apparatus including a preferred form of the new ticket printing and webs-severing device;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational View of the new ticket-printing unit, online 2-2-:in Fig. 1, partly in section;

Fig. 3 is a View on line 3-3 in Fig. 2, partly in section and partly in topplan;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view on line l i in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the webadvancing device embodied in the: present inventicn;

Fig. G is a fragmentary detail view on line B6 in Fig. 2;

Fig. '2' is a fragmentary top plan view of a coin slide latching mechanism embodied in the i new ticket-printing unit;

Fig. 8 is a plan View, partly in section, on line 8-8 in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional detail view of the master or control plunger or button on line 9-9 in Fig. 7;

Fig. 1G is an elevational View, on line l-l' in.

ferred form of the present inventionais'fragmentarily shown in the drawing, is therein generally indicated at I 0, and includes an end wall M, this cabinet being ofthe general typewhich is used in conjunction with so-called pin and marble games.

Slidably mounted in the end wall ll of the cabinet If! is a coin= slide I2 and likewise slidably mounted in the end wall H of the cabinet I0 are a plunger or push button 13 and. a ball propelling device or plunger l3.

Provided in the coin slide l2, (Fig-1'), is a notched portion 25, (Fig; 1 and the wall which defines this notched portion 25 of the coinslide I2 is adapted to engage avertically extending pin or post 24 which is carried by an operating member 25, (Fig. 5). This operating member 26 is pivotally mounted, as at 22, upon a horizontally extending wall 53 of a supporting frame l5, which is generally indicated at l4, andis movable in a horizontal plane.

Carried by; and forming a partof, the pivotal operating member 26 is an arm 4!, (Fig. 3) and this arm 4| is adapted to be movedintoengage-- ment with an electriclswitch contact 42,. (Fig. 1) so as to force the contact 42 into engagement with a contact 43.

Associated with, and arranged adjacent to, the contacts 42 and 43 is a third contact N, (Fig. 1), which is adapted to be moved. into engagement. with the middle contact 43 by' means of an armtfl of a member 51, (Fig. 3), this member 51 being pivotally mounted upon the horizontal wall 53 of the supporting frame- [5, for movement in a horizontal plane, and thismemberv 57 being coaxially mounted, as at 22:; with or relative: to the pivotal operating member 26.

Provided in. the member 51, (Fig. 3), is a notched portion 55 whichv is latchingly engagea'ble with an upwardly extending: arm. I05 ofa latch member 54, (Fig. 3'), this latch member 54 being pivotally mounted at one: end, as at ml, upon the horizontal shelf 53 and' upon: the bottom side of the latter and: being urged a counterclockwise direction. (Fig. 6), by" a spring The member 51. also includes an upwardlyex tending arm 92 and this arm 92' is; adapted to be engaged by an arm 21 of the" member 26, so: as to pivot the'memberi'l, (clockwise, Fig; 3),. for reasons which will be explained hereinafter.

Arranged upon the supportingframe I52 ad jacent the inner end of the push button? or plunger 13, (Fig. 1), are two normally spaced contacts l5. and it}. (Fig. 1'), and likewise? mount.-

ed upon the supporting frame I5 is an electromagnet 44. The contacts 42-43, and H, and the contacts 15 and 76, together with the electromagnet 44, are arranged in an electric circuit l2 (Fig. 11) which also includes a suitable current source, which may be, for example, a battery ll of dry cells arranged in the cabinet iii.

Associated. with the electromagnet 44 is a pivotal armature 45, (Fig. 2), and this armature 45 is pivotally connected, at one end (Fig. 2), to the lower end portion 46 of a vertically extending bar 4'! which is pivotally mounted, adjacent its upper end, as at 48, (Fig. 2), upon the supporting frame l5.

A link 49, (Fig. 3), has one end connected to the pivotal bar 4'! and the other end of this link 49 is attached to the end portion 50 of a horizontally extending bar 5!, this bar 5| being pivotally mounted, between its ends, as at 52 upon the horizontal shelf 53 of the supporting frame I5, and being urged in a clockwise direction (Fig. 3) by a spring H0.

Carried by the member 5! is an upwardly extending post or pin Bl, (Fig. 3), and attached to this post or pin BI is one end portion of a coil spring 32, the other end portion of this coil spring 62 being attached to a Vertically extending post or pin 33 which forms a part of the pivotal and web-severing printing device, which is generally indicated at 64 (Fig. 3).

Associated with the present printing and websevering unit is an inscription-receiving web i8, (Fig. 2), and the free end portion of this web i8 is guided, by means of guideways 43, which are arranged upon the supporting frame l5, past the peripheral or printing surface of a printing drum l6 which is rotatably mounted upon the supporting frame l5. Bearing upon the peripheral or printing surface of the drum iii are inking rollers H.

The inscription-receiving web l8 is of the perforated type and. the relatively free end portion of the web I8 is moved, in a step by step movement, past the printing surface of the drum l6 by means of a web-advancing roller 23 which is rotatably mounted upon the supporting frame 55, (Fig. 2). Provided on the periphery of the web-advancing roll 20 are lugs 24, (Fig. 2), and these lugs 2i are engageable in perforations (not shown) which are formed in the web l8.

The severing device embodied in the present apparatus comprises a relatively movable knife 68 which is pivotally mounted as at 65 (Fig. 4) upon a lateral extension or arm 33 of the supporting frame l5. The web-severing knife also includes a relatively stationary blade 70 which is fixedly attached to the arm 66, and the webprinting device comprises a platen or pressure member 85 which is coaxially mounted, at 35, with the movable element 68 of the web-severing device 68--10, and the pressure member 85 and the movable element 68 of the web-severing device are interconnected by a vertically extending pin or post 63 to which one end of the coil spring 62 is attached, (Figs. 3 and 4), and by reason of this arrangement the coil spring 62 urges the movable element 68 of the web' severing knife Bit-10 and the pressure member (counterclockwise, Figs. 3 and 4) into engagement with the relatively free end portion of the web l8, so as to perform the score-printing and web-severing operations.

The web-severing knife 68'l0 is arranged above the platen or pressure member 85 and the latter includes a relatively soft or resilient portion 61 which is engageable with the lower or free end portion of the web l8 so as to force the latter into printing engagement with the printing drum Hi to effect the printing operation.

Pivotally mounted at one end upon the shaft 65, coaxially with the movable element 68 of the web-severing knife and the platen or pressure member 85, and for movement in a horizontal plane, is a switch-operating arm 83, (Fig. 4), which is adapted to engage the cont-act 75 so as to force the latter into engagement with the contact [6. Attached to the relatively free or outer end of this switch-operating arm 85, (Fig. 4), is one end of a coil spring I39, the other end of this coil spring 88 being attached to the vertically extending pin or post 53 which interconnects the movable element 68 of the websevering knife 68'H], (Fig. 4), and the platen or pressure member 8531 (Fig. 3).

Provided in the peripheral edge of the platen or pressure member 85-6'l (Fig. 3) is a notched portion l4 and latchingly engageable in this notched portion 14 is an upwardly extending arm 8? of the pivotal latch bar 5ll5l, this notched portion 14 of the platen 85-45! being urged into engagement with the arm 81 of the latch bar Bil-5| by the coil spring 62 which urges both the movable element 38 of the websevering knife and the platen or pressure member 85-3'l (in a counterclockwise direction, Fig. 3).

The pivotal operating member 26 has a laterally extending arm 21 and depending from this arm 21 is an extension 28, (Figs. 5 and 12). Pivotally connected to the depending extension 28 of the arm 2! is a link 30 which is pivotally connected at one end, as at 29, (Figs. 3 and 12) to a cam 33. This cam 33 is rotatably and loosely mounted, that is floats upon a horizontal shaft 34 which is journaled in the supporting frame l5, for movement in a vertical plane.

Pivotally mounted at one end, as at 3|, upon the cam 33, (Fig. 5) is a pawl 32. Fixed upon this shaft 34, adjacent to the cam 33 are two ratchets 35 and 99, (Fig. 5), and the web-advancing roll 20 is likewise fixed upon the shaft 34. Engageable with the teeth of the outer ratchet 35, (as seen in Fig. 5), is a dog 3'! which is pivotally mounted at one end, as at 38, upon the supporting frame l5, (Fig. 4), and engageable with the teeth of the inner ratchet 99, (as seen in Fig. 5), is a dog I02, (Fig. 5) which is pivotally mounted at its lower end, as at 18, upon the supporting frame l5, (Fig. 5). The pawl 32, which is carried by the cam 33, (Fig. 5), is likewise engageable with the teeth of the inner ratchet 99.

Having its radially inner end attached to the shaft 34 (Fig. 5), and having its radially outer end attached to the dog I02 is a coil spring 89. Similarly, a coil spring 93 has its radially inner end attached to the shaft 34 and its radially outer end attached to the dog 37, and in a like manner, a coil spring 9! has its radially inner end attached to the shaft 34 and its radially outer endattached to the pawl 32, (Fig. 5).

Attached to the cabinet wall I! on the inner side thereof is a guide 19, (Figs. 7 and 8), and slidably mounted in this guide '59 is a latch bar 80. This latch bar has an angled arm 84 which is engageable in a notched portion 82 which is provided in one longitudinal edge of the coin slide l2, (Figs. 7 and 8). The slide bar 80 is normally urged, by a resetting spring 83 in a direction, (right to left, Fig. '7, left to right,

Fig.1 8) to move its angled or offset arm 84 into latching: engagement with the notched portion 825 ct the: coin slide I2;

The inner end' portion. of? the plunger 13 is slidably." projected. through an opening 88 which is formed in the latch bar. 80, (Figs. 8 and 10), and through a: corresponding opening which is formed inztheguide 19,,and the plunger 13 is normally; urged; outwardly, relative to the cabinet wall II. in which it is mounted, by a coil spring 13 arranged, thereon, (Fig; 10). Provided on the. plunger 13 is a beveled annular shoulder I94 which is'engageable with, the wall which defines theopening 88sin the. slidable latchbar 89, it being noted, (Fig. 8,), that the axial center of the plunger 13 is eccentric relative to the center of the opening 88": in the slidable latch bar 89.

Provided. in the plunger 13-IU4 is a notched portion.93, (Figsr9and 10), and the wall of the latch bar 89: which defines the opening 88 therein islatchingly'engageable in this portion 93v of the plungerrorpush button 13 so as to latch the slide bar 80' in inwardly extended position, (as in dotted lines, Fig. 10), against the action of its resetting spring I93.

Thelatch bar 80 has a laterally extending arm 94,. ('Fig. 7), and this arm 94 has anupwardly extending portion 96.

Pivotally mounted, at one end, as at 91, upon a lateral extension I99 of the coin slide I2, (Fig. 7), is a trip or detent 95 and attached to the relatively free end portion of this member 95 is a coilspring 98 whichurges the detent 95 (counterclockwise, Fig. 7) into engagement with the upwardly extending portion 96 of the arm 94 of the sliclablelatch bar 89.

Operation Balls: are propelled onto the inclined playing board (not shown) of the cabinet I9, by the plunger I3, and if they enter into a ball exit or scoring opening or pocket. in the inclined playing boardthey actuate a conventional mechanism for advancing the printing drum IS a predetermined circumferential distance away from its initial or zero position, and the printing drum I5 is thus advanced in accordance with the score of the game made by the player.

When the player completes'a game he pushes inwardly upon the push button or plunger 13, thereby causing the inner end portion of the push button or plunger 13 to engage the contact 15 and thus move the latter into engagement with the contact 16-, thereby closing the electric circuit 12, (Fig. 12), to the electromagnet 44; it being understood that the switch 42-43-1I, Figs. 1 and 11), has previously been closed by the operation of the coin slide I2 and associated members 25-41 and 51-60.

When. the circuit 12 to the electromagnet 44 is thus: closed, by the operation of the plunger or push button 13, it attracts its armature 45, and this movement of the armature 45 pivots the vertical armature 46-41 (counterclockwise,

I Fig. 2), and this movement of the vertical armature-46-41 acts, through the medium of the link 49, to pivot the latch bar 50-5I at 52, (counterclockwise, Fig. 3), thus moving the upwardly extending arm 81 thereof out of latching engagementwith the notched portion 14 of the platen or impression-transmitting member 85-61; whereupon the tensioned coil spring 62 urges the platen or pressure member 85-61, and the movable, element 88 ofthe web-severing knife 68-19, (in a counterclockwisedirection, Figs. 3 and 4) thereby moving, the relatively soft or resilient portion 61:01 the platen 85-61 into engagement with. the" relatively free, end portion of: the web i8, and thus movingthe freeend portion of the web I8 into engagement with the inked peripheral surface of the printing drum I6. to efiect the printing operation.

When the tensioned coil spring 62 acts upon the platen or pressure member 85-61 to pivot the latter, (counterclockwise, Fig. 3), into engagement with the free: end portion of the web I8, it also acts upon the movable element 68 of the webrsevering knife 68-10 to pivot the latter (counterclockwise, Fig. 4), thereby moving the cutting edge portionor arm 88 of the knife 68-18 into engagement with the relatively free end portion oiweb I8, which in turn is thus urged into engagement with the relatively stationary portion 1|] of the web-severing knife 68-10, and in this manner the printed portion or strip of the web I8 is severed from the body of the same, whereupon the thus printed and severed strip is delivered exteriorly of the cabinet II) to the player by means. of a suitable delivery chute (not shown) but which may be provided in the cabinet I9.

The foregoing movement of the bar 59-59 (clockwise, Fig. 6)'- causes the arm 59 thereof to engage one edge of the latch bar 54, thereby pivoting the latch bar 54 at IIlI- (counterclockwise, Fig; 3, clockwise, Fig. 4) and thus moving the upwardly extending, arm I05of the latch bar 54 out of latching engagement. with the notched portion 55 of the member 56-51.

When the notched portion 55 of. the member 59-51" is thus released from latching engagement with the angled end portion I05 of the latch baror keeper 54, the tensioned coil spring 62 acts-upon the member 51 to pivot the latter, at 22, (counterclockwise, Fig. 3). During this movement of the member 51, (counterclockwise, Fig. 3) the arm thereof moves out of engagement with the contact 1I, (Fig. 1), thus allowing the contact H to move, by its own resiliency, out of engagement with the contact 43, and thus opening the switch 42-43-1I and the circuit 12 to the electromagnet 44, and,.as will be explained presently, this circuit 12 is not closed again until a proper coin'or token has been inserted into the coin-aperture of the coin slide. I2 and the latter has been moved from its initial or coin-receiving position (as in Fig. 1), to coin-discharging position, and the player has operated the push but-- ton or plunger 13.

When acoin or token of the proper size, denomination, etc., is inserted into the coin-receiving aperture of the coin slide I2 and the latter is pushed inwardly (bottom to top, Fig. 1) from coin-receiving position to coin-discharging position, that portion of the coin slide I2 which defines the wall of the notched portion 25 therein engages the upstanding post or pin 24 which is carried by the pivotal member 26, and thereby pivots the member 26 (clockwise, Fig. 3) against the action of its resetting spring49. During this movement of the member 26 (clockwise, Fig. 3) the arm 21 thereof engages the upwardly extending arm 92of the member 56-51 (Fig. 3) and thereby pivots the latter (clockwise, Figs. 1 and 3), against the action of its resetting spring I98, thus moving the arm Iii) thereof into engagement with the contact N (Fig. 1) and thereby forcing the contact 1I into engagement with the contact 43.

When the coin slide I2 is. released and is. re-

tracted, or returned, to its initial or coin-receiving position, (as in Fig. 1), by means of a resetting spring I06, the coilspring 62 acts upon the member 56- 5'I to pivot the same (counterclockwise, Fig. 3), thereby moving the notched portion 55 thereof into latching engagement with the upwardly extending arm I95 of the latch member 54, and in this manner the member 5651 is latched (as in full line position, Fig. 3) with the arm 68 thereof disposed in engagement with the contact II, and with the contact II disposed in engagement with the contact 43.

At the same time, that is, when the coin slide I2 is released, and is returned to its initial or coinreceiving position (as in Fig. 1), the tensioned coil spring 49 acts upon the pivotal member 262'llI, to pivot the latter (counterclockwise, from dotted to full line position, Fig. 3) thereby moving the arm 4I thereof into engagement with the contact 62 and thus forcing the contact 42 into engagement with the contact 43.

It will thus be seen that when the coin slide I2 has completed a full inward movement or operative stroke and has returned to its initial or coin-receiving position, the arm 60 of the member 5'5 is disposed in engagement with the contact II and the arm 4I of the member 26 is disposed in engagement with the contact 42, and the switch 42i3-1I is closed.

Accordingly, when the player operates the plunger or button l3, that is, when the same is pushed inwardly, (bottom to top, Fig. 10), the inner end portion I4 of the plunger I3 engages the contact I5, thereby closing the circuit I2 to the electromagnet 44, (Fig. 11), whereupon the electromagnet 44 attracts its armature 46-41 and the latter acts, through the medium of the link .9, to release the angled or upwardly extending arm 2? of the bar 595I from latching engagement with the notched portion I4 of the platen 35-51, whereupon the spring 62 pivots the platen -67 and the web-severing knife 68-10 (counterclockwise, Figs. 3 and 4), respectively, to effect the printing and web-severing operations.

The slide bar 89 is normally urged in a direction (left to right, Fig. 8, right to left, Fig. '7) to move the angled arm 84 thereof into latching engagement with the notched portion 82 of the coin slide I2 and the coin slide I2 is normally latched against movement by the engagement of the arm 8 of the slide bar 89 in the notched portion 82 thereof.

However, when the plunger or push button I3 is pushed inwardly, (bottom to top, Fig. 10) the beveled annular shoulder I94 thereof engages the wall which defines the opening 98 in the slide bar 3%, thereby sliding the slide bar 80 (right to left, Fig. 8) and thus moving the angled arm 84 of the slide bar 89, against the action of the spring 83, out of latching engagement with the notched portion 32 of the coin slide I2, and the slide bar 80 is latched in this position, that is, with the arm 84 thereof disposed out of latching engagement with the notched portion 82 of the coin slide I2, by the engagement of the wall of the slide bar 89 which defines the opening therein with the notched portion 93 of the plunger or push button I3, (Figs. 8, 9 and 10).

However, when the coin slide I2 is pushed in (bottom to top, Fig. '7), the pivotal detent carried thereby engages the upwardly extending portion 93 of the arm 94 of the slide bar 8|], whereupon the detent 95 is pivoted at 9T (clockwise, Fig. 7), against the action of its resetting Spring 98, and

when the detent 95 passes the upwardly extending portion 96 of the arm 94 of the latch bar 89, the spring 98 returns the detent 95 (counterclockwise, Fig. 7), back into its initial position, as in Fig. 7. However, when the coin slide I2 is retracted or returned to its initial position (top to bottom, Fig. 7), the detent 95 again engages the upwardly extending portion 96 of the arm 94 of the slide bar 83, and during this engagement the detent 95 acts a cam and moves the slide bar 89 (left to right, Fig. '7), thus moving the wall of the slide bar 80 which defines the opening 88 therein out of latching engagement with the notched portion 93 of the plunger or push button 73, whereupon the resetting spring I93 on the plunger 13 returns the latter to its initial position (from dotted to full line position, Fig. 10)

The contact 15 then moves, by its own resiliency, out of engagement with the contact 16 and the circuit 52 (Fig. 11) to the electromagnet 44 is thus opened and remains open until the coin slide I2 and the members 5'I6IJ and 264I have been operated to close the switch 4243'II and the push button or plunger I3 has been operated to close the switch 15-16.

However, when the coin slide I2 reaches its initial or coin-receiving position (as in Figs. 1 and 7), the spring 83 again urges the slide bar 80 in a direction (right to left, Fig. 7, left to right, Fig. 8), to move the arm 84 thereof into latching engagement with the notched portion 82 of the coin slide I2.

It will thus be noted, that by reason of the foregoing relationship of the push button I3, latch bar Sli84, and notched portion 82 of the coin slide I2, it is necessary for the player to operate the push button or plunger 13, that is, to push in on the same, so as to release the arm 84 of the slide bar 89 from latching engagement with the notched portion 32 of the coin slide I2, before the coin slide 52 may be operated, thus assuring that the printing and web-severing unit are disposed in their initial and proper position before the player commences to play.

When the coin slide I2 is pushed in, the notched portion 25 thereof engages the pin or post 24 on the pivotal member 26 and thereby pivots the member 26 (clockwise, Fig. 3), as hereinbefore explained. This movement of the member 26 (clockwise, Fig. 3), tensions the spring 40 and causes the arm 27 of the member 26 to move the link 39 (right to left, Fig. 3, left to right, Fig. 12). This movement of the link 39 (left to right, Fig. 12) acts upon the cam 33 to rotate the latter (counterclockwise, Fig. 12) upon the shaft 34. This movement of the cam 33 (counterclockwise, Fig. 12) causes the rise 89 thereon to engage the latch dog 31, thereby pivoting the latch dog 3? at 38 (clockwise, Fig. 5) out of engagement with the teeth of the outer ratchet 35 (Fig. 5). Accordingly, when the coin slide I2 is retracted the tensioned spring 49 acts upon the member 26 to pivot the latter (counterclockwise, Fig. 3) and during this movement the member 26 acts, through the link 39, to rotate the cam 33 (clockwise, Figs. 5 and 12). During this movement of the cam (clockwise, Figs. 5 and 12), the pawl 32 which is carried by the cam 33 engages the teeth of the inner ratchet 99, and the shaft 34 and the web-advancing roll 20 which is attached ing knife including an electromagnet and an past the :cutting edge or-arm 1 0 :of the *web-severing knife 68--10.

During the foregoing motion of the 'cam' 33 (counterclockwise, Fig. 12), the dog H32, being disposed in engagement with the 'innerratchet 99, prevents .the same and the web-advancing roll 20 from being rotated (in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 5), and the engagement of the dog :31 being normally disposed in engagement with the outer ratchet 35 prevents rotation of the latter and the web-advancing roll 20 (clockwise, Fig. 5),, until the cam 33 has been operated to lift the dog 31 out of engagement with the ratchet 35.

When the platen or pressure member 85-6 5 is moved into effective or pivoting position, and the movable element 68 of the web-severing knife 68-10 is moved into effective orcutting position, the coil spring I09 acts upon thearm 88, (Fig. l), to pivot the same (counterclockwise, Fig. l) into engagement with the contact I5 and the contact 15 is thus retained in engagement with the contact Land the circuit 12 is :thus kept closed, so that even :though the contact 15 might, by its own resiliency tend to move out of engagement with the contact 16, after .having been .moved into engagement with the :contact 16, by the movement of the push button #3, the engagement of the arm 86 with thecontact (5, taking place simultaneously with theiprinting and web-severing operations, assures that the contacts 75 and 16 will be held in engagement with each other and that the circuit 12 to the electromagnet M will be kept closed, when the push button it is pushed in, thereby assuring that the electro-magnet 44 and the parts released "thereby may perform the printing and web-severing operations.

As used hereinafter in the claims the term support is'intended to 'includeinot only'the supporting frame l5 but also the supporting wall H of the cabinet Ill and in which wall the'ac'tuatingmemher or coin slide 'IZand the actuatingmember or plunger 13 are slidably mounted.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying our invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification, without departing from the spirit of the invention. We, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such variations and modifications as come within'the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters 1. A printing and web-severing unit comprising: a supporting frame; a printing drum rotatably mounted upon said supporting frame; anactuatingmember and a plunger; a platen and a web-severing knife pivotally mounted upon said supporting frame; means coacting with the said actuating ,member, when the latter 'is oper ated, to advance the relatively free end portion of an inscription-receiving or score ticket web relative to and past said platen and websevering knife and "between the same and said printing drum; means urging said platen and said web-severing knife into engagement with said 'inscription receiving web; means normally latching said platen and said web-severing knife out of engagement with said inscription-receiving web, or ineffective position, against the action of said urging means; and means for releasing said "latching means from latching engagement with said platen and said web-severelectric circuit for controlling the operation of said electromagnet; said circuit including two switches arranged therein in series; means coacting with the said actuatingmember, when the latter is operated, to close one of said switches; and the other of said switches being closed by operation of said plunger so as to close the said circuit to'said electromagnet and thus move said latching means out of latching engagement with said platen and said web-severing knife so as to allow the same to be moved into engagement with said web by said urging means.

2. A score-printing unit comprising: a support; a printing drum rotatably mounted upon said support; an actuating memberand a'plunger slidably mounted on said support; a platen pivotally mounted upon said support; means coacting with the said actuating member, when the latter is operated, to advance the relatively free end portion of an inscription-receiving or scoreticket web relative to and past said platen and between the same and said printing drum; means urging said platen into engagement with said inscription-receiving web; means normally latching said platen out of engagement with said inscription-receiving web, or in ineffective position, against the action :of said urging means; and means for releasing said latching means from latching engagement with said platen including an electromagnet and an electric circuit for controlling the operation of said electromagnet; said circuit including two switches arranged therein in series; means coacting with the said actuating member, when the latter is operated, to close one of said switches; and the other of said switches being closed by operation of said plunger so as to close the said circuit to said electromagnet and .thus move said latching means out of latching engagement with said platen so as to allow the same to be moved into engagement with said inscription-receiving web by said urging means.

3. A score-printing and web-severing unit comprising: a support; a printing drum rotatably mounted upon said support; two manually operated actuating members slidably mounted upon said support; a platen and a web-severing knife movably mounted upon said support; means coacting with one of the said actuating members, when the latter is operated, tOf advance the relatively free end portion of an inscription-receiving web relative to and past said platen and web-severing knife and between the latter and said printing drum; means urging said platen and said web-severing knife into engagement with said inscription-receiving web; means normally latching said platen and said web-severing knife out of latching engagement with said inscription-receiving web, against the action of said urging means; and means for releasing said latching means from latching engagement with said platen and said web-severing knife, so as to allow the same to be moved into engagement with said inscription-receiving web, under the action of said urging means, comprising an electric circuit including two switches arranged therein in series; means coacting with the said one of said actuating members, when the latter is operated, to close one of said switches; and the other of said switches being closed by operation of the other of said actuating members.

4. A score-printing unit comprising: a support; a printing drum rotatably mounted upon said support; two manually operated actuating members slidably mounted upon said support; a platen movably mounted upon said support; means coacting with one of said actuating members, when the latter is operated, to advance the relatively free end portion of an inscription-receiving web relative to and past said platen and between the latter and said printing drum; means urging said platen into engagement with the inscriptionreceiving web; means normally latching said platen out of latching engagement with said inscription-receiving web, against the action of said urging means; and means for releasing said. latching means from latching engagement with said platen so as to allow the same to be moved into engagement with said web, under the action of said urging means, comprising an electric circuit including two switches arranged therein in series; means coacting with the said one of said actuating members, when the latter is operated, to close one of said switches; and the other of said switches being closed by operation of the other of said manually operated actuating memhere.

5. A score-printing and web-severing unit comprising: a support; a printing drum rotatably mounted upon said support; an actuating memher and a plunger; a platen and a web-severing knife pivotally mounted upon said support; means coacting with the said actuating member, when the latter is operated, to advance the relatively free end portion of an inscriptionreceiving or score ticket web relative to and past said platen and web-severing knife and between the same and said printing drum; means urging said platen and said web-severing knife into engagement with said web; means normally latching said platen and said web-severing knife out of engagement with said web or in ineffective position, against the action of said urging means; and 'means for releasing said latching means from latching engagement with said platen and said web-severing knife including an electromagnet andan electric circuit for controlling the operation of said electromagnet; said circuit including two switches arranged thereinin series; means coacting with the said actuating member, when the latter is operated, to close one of said switches; the other of said switches being closed by operation of said plunger so as to close the said circuit to said electromagnet and thus move said latching means out of latching engagement with said platen and said web-severing knife so as to allow the same to be moved into engagement with said Web by said urging means; and means for latching the said actuating member against operation; said last-named means being released from latching engagement with said actuating member by movement of said plunger away from its normal or initial position.

6. A score-printing unit comprising: a support; a printing drum rotatably mounted upon said support; an actuating member and a plunger slidably-mounted upon said support; a platen pivotally mounted upon said support; means coacting with the said actuating member, when the latter is operated, to advance the relatively free end portion of an inscription-receiving or score ticket web relative to and past said platen and between the same and said printing drum; means urging said platen into engagement with said web; means normally latching said platen out of engagement with said web, or in ineffective position, against the action of said urging means; means for releasing said latching means from latching engagement with said platen including an electromagnet and an electric circuit for controlling the operation of said electromagnet; said circuit including two switches arranged therein in series; means coacting with the said actuating member, when the latter is operated, to close one of said switches; the other of said switches being closed by operation of said plunger so as to close the said circuit to said electromagnet and thus move said latching means out of latching engagement with said platen so as to allow the same to be moved into engagement with said web by said urging means; and means for latching the said actuating member against operation; said last-named means being released from latching engagement with said actuating member by movement of said plunger away from its normal or initial position.

'7. A score printing and web-severing unit comprising: a support; a printing drum rotatably mounted upon said support; two manually operated actuating members slidably mounted upon said support; a platen and a web-severing knife movably mounted upon said support; means coacting with one of the said actuating members, when the latter is operated, to advance the relatively free end portion of an inscription-receiving web relative to and past said platen and websevering knife and between the latter and said printing drum; means urging said platen and said web-severing knife into engagement with said inscription receiving web; means normally latching said platen and said web-severing knife out of engagement with said inscription-receiving web, against the action of said urging means; means for releasing said latching means from latching engagement with said platen and websevering knife, so as to allow the same to be moved into engagement with said web, under the action of said urging means, comprising an electric circuit including two switches arranged therein in series; means coacting with the said one of said actuating members, when the latter is operated, to close one of said switches; the other of said switches being closed by operation of the other of said manually operated actuating members; and means for latching the said one of said actuating members against operation; said last-named means being released from latching engagement with the said one of actuating members by movement of the other of said actuating members away from its normal or initial position.

8. A score-printing unit comprising: a support; a printing drum rotatably mounted upon said support; two manually operated actuating members slidably mounted upon said support; a platen movably mounted upon said support; means coacting with one of the said actuating members, when the latter is operated, to advance the relatively free end portion of an in scription-receiving web relative to and past said platen and between the latter and said printing drum; means urging said platen into engagement with said inscription-receiving web; means nor mally latching said platen out of latching engagement with said inscription-receiving web; against the action of said urging means; means for releasing said latching means from latching engagement with said platen so as to allow the latter to be moved into engagement with said web, under the action of said urging means, comprising an electric circuit including two switches arranged therein in series; means ooacting with the said one of said actuating mem- 75 bers, when the latter is operated, to close one of said switches; the other of said switches being closed by operation of the other of said actuating members; and means for latching the said one of said actuating members against operation; said last-named means being released from latching engagement with the said one of said actuating members by movement of the other of said actuating members away from its normal or initial position.

9. A score-printing and web-severing unit comprising: a support; a printing drum rotatably mounted upon said support; an actuating member and a plunger slidably mounted upon said support; a platen and a web-severing knife pivotally mounted upon said support; means coacting with the said actuating member, when the latter is operated, to advance the relatively free end portion of an inscription-receiving or score ticket web relative to and past said platen and web-severing knife and between the same and said printing drum; means urging said platen and said web-severing knife into engagement with said web; means normally latching said platen and said web-severing knife out of engagement with said web, or in inefiective position, against the action of said urging means; means for releasing said latching means from latching engagement with said platen and said web-severing knife including an electromagnet and an electric circuit for controlling the operation of said electromagnet; said circuit including two switches arranged therein in series; means coacting with the said actuating member, when the latter is operated, to close one of said switches; the other of said switches being closed by operation of said plunger so as to close the said circuit to said electromagnet and thus move said latching means out of latching engagement with said platen and said web-severing knife so as to allow the same to be moved into engagement with said web by said urging means; means for latching the said plunger in inwardly extended or eifective position; and means coacting with the said actuating member, when the latter is moved away from its normal or initial position to release said last-named latching means from latching engagement with said plunger so as to permit the latter to return to its normal or initial position.

10. A score-printing unit comprising: a support; a printing drum rotatably mounted upon said support; an actuating member and a plunger slidably mounted upon said support; a platen pivotally mounted upon said support; means coacting with the said actuating member, when the latter is operated, to advance the relatively free end portion of an inscription-receiving or score ticket web relative to and past said platen and between the same and said printing drum; means urging said platen into engagement with said web; means normally latching said platen out of engagement with said web, or in ineffecti ve position, against the action of said urging means; means for releasing said latching means from latching engagement with said platen including an electromagnet and an electric circuit for controlling the operation of said electromagnet; said circuit including two switches arranged therein in series; means coacting with the said actuating member, when the latter is operated, to close one of said switches; the other of said switches being closed by operation of said plunger so as to close the said circuit to said electroa 

